Delegation, truckers, speak up against diesel costs

Truckers protest inWashington: Photo by Getty Images

Members of the Maine Congressional delegation have joined Maine truckers in speaking out against the rising cost of diesel fuel.

Eight Maine truckers went down to Washington to join a convoy protest the costs. They are part of the Coalition to Lower Fuel Prices.

Rep. Tom Allen (D) met the truckers at I-95 Exit 25 in Kennebunk.

Allen has called for an “immediate federal investigation” of price fixing and manipulation, sending letters to the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, among others.

He has met with truckers around Maine.

His statement:

"More than a year ago when I met some of Maine's independent truckers in Fort Kent, they told me then that they were struggling to make ends meet because diesel prices were so high. It is a shame that when Big Oil companies are posting record profits and speculators are profiteering that these hard-working truckers, along with Mainers everywhere, are suffering…

"I join them in their frustration. That is why I have called for investigations into why fuel prices jump from week to week. I have requested of our top regulatory agencies, as well as the U.S. Attorney General, to start immediate investigations of price fixing, manipulation, rampant speculation and other unscrupulous behavior in the petroleum markets. I have also called for prosecution and punishment to the fullest extent of the law any inappropriate or criminal behavior by oil companies, their subsidiaries, their agents or their employees."

The truckers met with U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe (R) and Susan Collins (R) in Washington.

Last week Snowe helped introduce the “Trust in Reliable Understanding of Consumer Costs (TRUCC) Act” to make sure truckers are reimbursed for fuel costs. Many people have been forced to leave the trucking industry because they cannot afford the costs.

She has also introduced legislation to lower fuel costs.

Her statement:

“Small business truckers are often at the mercy of freight brokers, logistics intermediaries and larger trucking companies,” Snowe said in a statement.

“There is currently no uniform fuel surcharge standard, so such surcharges are often determined without the participation of the operators who are hauling the freight. Without a requirement to disclose the amount of the surcharge in the contract, small business motor carriers are left vulnerable to opportunistic intermediaries who are padding their own coffers at the expense of the hard-working men and women who simply trying to make ends meet.”

After her meeting with Maine truckers Monday, she said the prices have damaged an important Maine industry. “The trucking industry is the lifeblood of our country’s economy and we need to work with the trucking industry to help alleviate the burden they are being forced to bear,” she said in a statement.

Collins also met with the truckers today. She discussed her 10-point plan to address the energy crisis.

Her guidelines plan for energy independence by 2020.

Her statement:

“It is painfully clear that the price of gasoline, home heating oil, and diesel are creating tremendous hardships for these truckers and their families. We need a dramatic change in our energy policy to protect ourselves from rapid increases in oil prices without sacrificing our environment for future generations. We must rally around a national effort to achieve energy independence for our economic, environmental and national security. That is why I have proposed a ten-point plan to get us started on this important effort. It is a plan that includes both actions we can take in the short-term to mitigate high prices as well as actions to achieve energy independence in the long-term.”

Rounding out the delegation, U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud also released a statement today.

"I applaud the hardworking men and women who came to Washington today to talk about the desperate situation many truckers are facing as fuel prices continue to increase. I hope that their advocacy helps wake up the President and those in Congress who have blocked attempts to help address their concerns. I also hope the truckers’ protest will help those who have opposed steps to relieve the pressure of high fuel prices to understand how their lack of action affects Americans every day.

"Diesel prices are devastating our small businesses and truckers in Maine, just as high gas prices are hurting every American. Unfortunately, current fuel prices are only going to get worse as the summer driving season approaches. The time for action is now.

"Congress has passed legislation to crack down on oil price gouging, hold OPEC accountable for oil price fixing, and repeal subsidies for profit-rich Big Oil so we can invest in a renewable energy future. President Bush needs to sign this legislation, instead of blocking these efforts. It is long past time that this Administration actually works with Congress to pass meaningful reforms rather than issuing veto threats to protect the record profits of Big Oil.

"As a part of the solution, I strongly support ending the abuses of energy market speculators. Legislation that I have cosponsored would require “off-market” energy speculators to play by the same rules that traders that participate in on-market trading already do. Passing this legislation would promote strict accountability by providing transparency and oversight to off-market energy trading. According to recent congressional testimony on this issue, an economist estimated that this increased oversight alone could reduce the price of crude oil by as much as $30 a barrel and reduce the price of natural gas by one-third."